Foreign Film
The starting place for exploring cinema from all over the world, with reviews, filmographies, top ten, and resources on films, actors and directors from Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and virtually everywhere else.
Elite Squad
"The Berlinale's top award couldn't have gone to a worse film," I wrote back in February, when Jose Padilha's Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite) won the Golden Bear at the 58th Berlin Film Festival. The Elite Squad had already become a blockbuster sensation in its native Brazil. The hard-boiled tale of corrupt cops and ruthless drug dealers in the favelas of Rio comes across as a no-nonsense version of City of God, in which a black-uniformed military police cracks down on both sides of the drug war.
"The Berlinale's top award couldn't have gone to a worse film," I wrote back in February, when Jose Padilha's Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite) won the Golden Bear at the 58th Berlin Film Festival. The Elite Squad had already become a blockbuster sensation in its native Brazil. The hard-boiled tale of corrupt cops and ruthless drug dealers in the favelas of Rio comes across as a no-nonsense version of City of God, in which a black-uniformed military police cracks down on both sides of the drug war.
Essential World/Foreign Films
The very best foreign films--or at the very least, Jürgen's list of favorite world films.
The very best foreign films--or at the very least, Jürgen's list of favorite world films.
Top Anime DVDs
There are plenty of folks who still equate Japanese animation with "Pokemon" and can't get used to the flat faces and weird storylines. But the plunge is worth taking. At their best, anime are as intelligent as the best feature films, and their daring plots can make the most jaded heads spin. Here are the best looking, most exciting anime DVDs.
There are plenty of folks who still equate Japanese animation with "Pokemon" and can't get used to the flat faces and weird storylines. But the plunge is worth taking. At their best, anime are as intelligent as the best feature films, and their daring plots can make the most jaded heads spin. Here are the best looking, most exciting anime DVDs.
Top Hong Kong Films
Since "The Matrix" introduced Western audiences to wire-fu, it seems we can't get enough of the flying, leaping, gravity-defying antics of the Hong Kong action heroes.
Since "The Matrix" introduced Western audiences to wire-fu, it seems we can't get enough of the flying, leaping, gravity-defying antics of the Hong Kong action heroes.
Top 10 French Film Essentials
Ten landmark French films that should not be missed by any serious film fan.
Ten landmark French films that should not be missed by any serious film fan.
Top Ten World Films We Love to Hate
Subtitles alone don't make art.
Subtitles alone don't make art.
Italian Film 101
Fellini, De Sica, Rossellini, Visconti, Antonioni--Italian cinema has its fair share of masters. This top ten isn't meant as an end-all list to the great films of Italy, but as a starting-off point for exploration.
Fellini, De Sica, Rossellini, Visconti, Antonioni--Italian cinema has its fair share of masters. This top ten isn't meant as an end-all list to the great films of Italy, but as a starting-off point for exploration.
Top 10 Films from Australia and New Zealand
Picking the top movies from any country is difficult, but picking ten from an entire continent (and including New Zealand) is even harder. Missing from this list are great movies like "Cactus," "The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith," "Praise," and Nicolas Roeg's "Walkabout,"--a terrific film that was (unfortunately for our purposes) made in England.
Picking the top movies from any country is difficult, but picking ten from an entire continent (and including New Zealand) is even harder. Missing from this list are great movies like "Cactus," "The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith," "Praise," and Nicolas Roeg's "Walkabout,"--a terrific film that was (unfortunately for our purposes) made in England.
Top Ten German Films
Lang, Wenders, Schlöndorff, Fassbinder, Herzog: the great German directors explore everything from claustrophobic World War II submarine warfare and mischievous dwarves to expressionistic visions of the future and angelic dreams of immortality. Here is our list of the ten best German film
Lang, Wenders, Schlöndorff, Fassbinder, Herzog: the great German directors explore everything from claustrophobic World War II submarine warfare and mischievous dwarves to expressionistic visions of the future and angelic dreams of immortality. Here is our list of the ten best German film
Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Prize Winners
A list of the winners of the festival's top prize through the years. Once known as the Grand Prix, from 1975 the top award has been the "Palme d'Or" or Golden Palm.
A list of the winners of the festival's top prize through the years. Once known as the Grand Prix, from 1975 the top award has been the "Palme d'Or" or Golden Palm.